Question

While watching a swimming competition one night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.

The event started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to complete. In fact, it is difficult enough, not having anyone to race against.

I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong. I’m not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was obvious that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.

I listened to the crowd beginning to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes (划水) and you could tell he was exhausted.

But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.

No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did.

This young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in swimming history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.

Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to the competition.

In a competition, we usually watch the brilliant athletes competing for medals, but it is nice to watch an underdog.

1.From the passage we learn that the young man _____.

A．made his turn to start back pitifully

B．was skillful at freestyle swimming

C．swam faster than the average swimmer

D．seemed unlikely to win a gold medal

2.The crowd changed their attitude because _____.

A．they felt sorry for the young man

B．they wanted to show their interest

C．they were moved by the young man

D．they meant to please the young man

3.According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means ____.

A．it’s amusing to watch a skillful swimmer swimming

B．it’s amazing to watch a good loser challenging himself

C．it’s good for athletes to act proudly

D．it’s difficult for some athletes to remove medals

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Go for it！         B．Try again!          C．Compete for gold!   D．Break a record!

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的是一个游泳水平很差的人，勇于挑战自己，最终完成了比赛，感动了观众，他才是真正的胜利者。这才是真正的体育精神。

1.D 细节题。根据第三段2,5行this was not exactly medal quality. 和I listened to the crowd beginning to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. 说明他的游泳水平较低，并不能夺取奖牌。故D项正确。

2.C 推理题。根据No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!”说明人们从一开始的嘲笑到后来的鼓励，都是因为被这个人的坚持所感动，故C项正确。

3.B 推理题。这个人的游泳水平很差，但是他有勇气战胜自己来到这里参加比赛，最终通过自己的努力完成了比赛，也许她的成绩是最差的，但是这仍然是一种胜利。这才是一种真正的体育精神。故B项正确。

4.A 主旨大意题。本文讲述的是一个游泳水平很差的人，勇于挑战自己，最终完成了比赛，感动了观众，他才是真正的胜利者。故A项符合文章的中心思想。

考点：考查人生体验类短文阅读